So, imagine you have limited use of triceps and severely weakened biceps and you have to raise and lower your arm and hand to your face, position a fork to your mouth. This is not an easy task when you tire after a few reps. Imagine that you don't have the strength to stab the food and then the forks slips from your grip because you have no ability to squeeze thumb and first finger. This is what Greg faces on each and every bite.
Typically, I feed Greg most of his meals, but he wants to and needs to try to feed himself. We have some adaptive instruments, but they can only help so much. PT helps work to strengthen Greg and OT helps to put that strength to use and they also help to strengthen him. It is a slow, often tedious and frustrating process.
In discussion with his therapists, we know that the first 6 months are when major gains are seen, but there will be 2 years where we see changes. There can be more after that, but it always a guessing game. When I write that there can major gains, let me explain what that can entail. It can mean strength, it can mean some more range of motion, it can mean that more muscles may fire (fingers may move). It means he can learn to turn himself in bed or eat with more ease or have more arm strength. It may may never mean more than that. But we will continue to work hard, have hope and pray for every gain that is possible.
Just another thank you for all the wonderful cards we receive, the thoughtful messages and the phone calls. The communication keeps us from feeling so isolated and far from family and friends.
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